A Merseyside town that once found itself with the "UK's worst tree" ended up holding Christmas in spring.
Back in 2014, residents in Liscard, Wirral, set up a Facebook page bemoaning the area's poor festive display. A sad sight, many will remember photos of the Christmas tree went viral, being crowned one of the worst in the UK that year.
At the time, a post on the group, called Liscard Christmas Lights, said: "We know we are not Liverpool or Birkenhead, but as a community and customers of all the local shops in Liscard all year round we deserve better from Wirral council and the businesses." The post was accompanied by a photograph of a very unimpressive tree that had been imprisoned behind a large metal gate.
Read More:
- 'Never before seen' footage shows Liverpool and Birkenhead during the 1953 coronation
- Look back on loved and lost Merseyside festival as new one emerges
Members on the Facebook group joined in the criticism, with one woman writing: "While I was shopping today my daughter Lilly who is 8, said that tree is terrible lol even the kids are disappointed haha." Another resident posted: "Yes very poor effort why bother."
Residents and shoppers hoped that if enough people spoke up about the issue, they could secure a more magical Christmas on the high street in future years. But the story caught the attention of not just the local councillors who promised to do more, but also the national media.
The tree also made it onto Buzzfeed's ranking of the worst ones out there - which at the time was a big deal. The people of Liscard were then made a series of promises about improvements to the tree, which was donated by Primark every year.
There was an allocation of £9,500 to put lights up around the town centre with 40 lampposts and five trees decorated. At the time, Liscard ward councillor Bernie Mooney had said the decorations had not been what they used to be because the local traders' association disbanded.
The Light up Liscard campaign went on to raise thousands of pounds, with donations pouring in from shoppers and local businesses. And before they knew it, Christmas came to Liscard the following April.
In April 2015, a dummy run at a Christmas spectacular complete with fake snow, a stunning tree and Father Christmas took place. Despite it being springtime, businesses and residents got into the festive spirit and hundreds turned up to watch the unveiling and the firework display.
The ECHO previously reported how Danny McLeod, from Birkenhead -based Argyle Taxis, teamed up with John White, manager of the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre for the project. At the time, he said: "The idea is to create a feel good factor for the people of Wallasey and the surrounding areas.
"We would like this to be the catalyst for change and a way of uniting the community in supporting their local traders. It’s been 11 months in the making but all the hard work involved looks like it could all be worth it."
But the excitement over Liscard's new tree took a hit when it was vandalised at least twice by yobs who pulled baubles from it and kicked and smashed them - soon the reasons for the previous trees' cage became apparent. The result of the acts of the thoughtless few led to an even more dismal 2016 when Liscard had no tree at all.
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
Cllr Mooney said in October 2016 that traders were reluctant to contribute funds following the vandalism so there was no money for a tree. She said: "We are desperately sad about it. No money has been raised through the community because people have been very reluctant to put money in.
“The traders have said what’s the point in them paying for a Christmas tree that’s going to be vandalised. We’ll have the lights on the lamp-posts and lights up in the trees but Liscard won’t be having a Christmas tree this year as far as we know.”
But one year later, in 2017 there was a tree, only this time in a new location inside the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, and where it has remained for Christmases since, that gave it protection from the mindless minority.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Read Next:
- Liverpool garden centre 'not that many people' know about is 'like a Tardis'
- 46 classic 'your da' jokes that Scousers find the funniest
- Nominate the woman in your life to join The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome
- 'Best pub on the Lane' pulling pints for over 140 years
- Old toys, consoles and comics hidden away that could earn you a small fortune
